Opinion: The Winner Takes It All (Billy Strachan)

For those who don't know I am the big cheese over at OSWtv where I lead a band of merry writers to talk about Scottish professional wrestling. We recently complete our first ever year end awards which got a great reaction with all the winners greatly deserved. People voted in their hundreds, picking their favourites and who impressed them in 2015.

Organising Year End Awards is often a daunting task with so many things that could go wrong or tampering to skew the results. This has put me off doing awards in the couple years OSWtv has been around. This year though, I wanted to let the fans decide jst who has impressed them in 2015 as 2015 was such a momental year in wrestling in Scotland so it was only right that we let the people vote.

This month in my guest column on Across the Pond Wrestling I'm going to pick a couple of the winners and take a look as to why the fans voted and why I think they won their respective category.

wrestler of the year (male) - damian o'connor

Damian O'Connor, the Beast of Belfast, had an incredible 2015. When he wasn't winning championships, he was leaving fans in awe by doing unthinkable moves that a monster his size should not even consider. He faced the best the world has to offer and stood on their chests. In Scotland, his highlights this year include winning the Heavyweight Championship in Pride Wrestling by defeating Jackie Polo, defeating the ICW World Heavyweight Champion Drew Galloway at ICW Shug's Hoose Party II (before shenanigans saw the match restarted and the decision go the other way), the fued between Rampage Brown and him saw a final showdown at Discovery Wrestling in a Last Man Standing match where Damo was able to keep Rampage down for a 10 count to be declared the victor plus a highly rated match with WWE NXT star Samoa Joe at PWE. Outside of Scotland Damo faced current WWE signees AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura plus Tanahashi and a host of huge names in professional wrestling. Damian O'Connor is truly a beast and one that is getting the recognition that he has earned especially over the last 12 months, I don't think we've seen the "final form" of Damo yet and this is just part of the evolution of the Irishman.

tag team of the year - polo promotions

Jackie Polo and Mark Coffey have really taken tag team wrestling in the country to the scruff of the neck, starting 2015 as ICW Tag Team Champions, the duo also captured the SWA Tag Team Championships after DCT turned on his Muay Tache partner Adam Carrel. Lead by Coach Trip and his #442 strategy they took over the tag division in Insane Championship Wrestling in impressive fashion by scoop slamming anyone that stood in their way. They retained their titles over The 55 team of Sha Samuels and Kid Fite in front of 4000 people in the SECC in Glasgow. It's a team that went from detested to loved and it was down to how well Coffey and Polo work together.

import of the year - mick foley

2015 saw many, many wrestlers come from across the pond to work in Scotland. This was a tough contest with the likes of Samoa Joe, Rhyno, James Storm, Hardcore Holly all coming over here to face some of the best Scotland has to offer, many top quality matches and moments provided by wrestlers outside of Scotland. The winner though, was Mick Foley. "The Hardcore Legend" was here over two shows in November as commissioner for WrestleZone Christmas Chaos (Comes Early!) and ICW Fear and Loathing VIII. Two sellout shows, two passionate speeches and two run ins to make sure the fans went home happy. With a recent tweet from Mick showing interest in returning in 2016 at the Hydro for ICW Fear and Loathing IX, could Mick make it two years in a row?

promotion of the year - insane championship wrestling

I don't think it was any surprise when ICW won Promotion of the Year and I can exclusively reveal it was a landslide vote for the Glasgow based company. 2015 was what dreams were made of for ICW, Mark Dallas and his team have taken the bar for which independent wrestling is measured on and snapped it. With several tours under their belt, high profile guests and high attendance figures, they are a key factor in Scotland and the UK on a whole being such a hotbed for talent. The Glasgow Pro Wrestling Asylum is provided a platform for growth and it's the developmental program, the on demand service and the high quality of wrestling that makes ICW very special. Often compared to ECW, Mark Dallas is Paul E (expect y'know he pays his talent), Chris Renfrew is Tommy Dreamer and their team is a family. ICW is a true underdog story of starting with less than 50 people in Maryhill to become a juggernaut in wrestling with 4000 fans flocking en mass to the SECC to watch Fear and Loathing VIII. It's a truly remarkable growth and with more cities to conquer in 2016 it's very possible that ICW could dominate this category in 2016.

The votes for the Year End Awards 2015 came in thick and fast, all the winners were picked by the fans plus the special Administration awards that the OSWtv team picked to give those who are just as important to the Scottish wrestling product as the wrestlers. If you missed our full results…check them out!

'Till next time…

- Billy

Guest Article: Scotland's Ones to Watch in 2016 (Billy Strachan)

Last year I kicked off my Across the Pond Wrestling blogging with a One To Watch article , talking about who to look out for in 2015. I think my picks did quite well and as we're beginning another year, I thought I would share with you my ones to watch for the upcoming 12 months.

aaron echo

PBW Academy standout Aaron Echo is one that I've had an eye on in 2015. He's big, deceptively quick and charismatic which are all fantastic traits to have in wrestling. The Premier British Wrestling Academy has a knack of training great all rounders and Echo is no different, he also has an incredible aura around him that carries forward and makes him look like a star. I think he will be a staple in Scotland sooner rather than later.


Aaron Echo on Facebook

ljt

A veteran in many ways, having been around for a few years now, 2015 was really a year that LJT will remember. Winning both titles in Scottish Wrestling Entertainment, including matches against Juventud Guerrera and Brian Kendrick, a blistering match with Lewis Girvan at Reckless Intent, winning the RI Super B.O.W.L. earlier in the year. It's looking good for "The Rebel With A Cause", I would love to see him appearing for other promotions like Discovery or Pride Wrestling in 2016, maybe a turn at Scottish Wrestling Alliance as I think he and Ryan Griffin would have a belter of a match over the Junior Heavyweight Title.


LJT on Facebook

theo doros

From The West Lothian Pro Wrestling School, this young man has been making quite an impression down in Reckless Intent. Regularly putting in big, gutsy performances against larger opponents in size and reputation. Having held the Sunday Slam Wrestling Championship for most of the year, he's faced the likes of Massimo Italiano and Lewis GIrvan which has seen him hold onto the title through determination and hard work. The fans have really taken to the Cypriot and are very vocal in supporting him. He's got a good look and certainly has the skill to go far.


Theo Doros on Facebook

lucy cole

Another PBW Academy graduate makes the list. Towards the end of 2015, Lucy Cole was just starting to get hold of a character and starting to cement a persona to get the crowd to get involved and give give her a reaction. 2016, I'm sure, will see that evolve further. The blonde bombshell faced some tough opponents in 2015, including former TNA Knockout's Champion Angelina Love and while she didn't pick up the win she displayed a lot of fight and toughness. In a climate where women's wrestling is at an all time high, I can see Lucy Cole pushing her way up the rankings but she will have a lot of work to do.


Lucy Cole on Facebook 

aspen faith

I have wrote about Aspen Faith in depth earlier on here but with 2015 marking the rise of Faith, 2016 will be the year that he breaks that glass ceiling. Having already competed in WrestleZone, Pride Wrestling, Discovery Wrestling, Rock N Wrestle and Insane Championship Wrestling it is only a matter of time before he's given that opportunity to really shine and make a name for himself around the country. He's got all the tools, he just needs the material to work with. If you want to read me gush about Aspen Faith, check out The Faith Is Strong With This One.


Aspen Faith on Facebook 


So there you have it. Five picks and five very talented individuals that I hope have a big year. Of course I am only scratching the surface of the talent pool Scotland has. With highly respected training schools around the country we could see a multitude of breakouts from anywhere. It's an exciting time and it can only get better.


Want to see more of these guys? Check out our Youtube playlist below.

Did I miss anyone? Contact me at VoiceOfOSW@gmail.com


Billy
oswtv.wordpress.com

Guest Article: Holding Out For A Local Hero (Billy Strachan)

From the country's capital, Edinburgh, Joe Hendry (Local Hero) is a name that is fast becoming known for being one of the most gifted wrestlers in Scotland, if not the UK. From his dazzling entrances to his charismatic showmanship, Joe Hendry (Local Hero) has what it takes to be a future cornerstone of professional wrestling.



It's incredible to think that Joe Hendry (Local Hero) has been wrestling for less that five years, having already held many titles and having outstanding matches on a regular basis. It's little surprise that Joe possesses a jack of all trades ability to adapt to any opponent, using his power and size to muscle opponents, to using his technical ability and wrestling to twist opponents, something which has also seen him win a silver medal in amateur wrestling in 2015.



His trophy cabinet is building up with titles from Reckless Intent, Scottish Wrestling Entertainment, Pride Wrestling, Scottish Wrestling Alliance and Pro Wrestling Ulster. Competing all over the UK from the North East of Scotland for Rock N Wrestle to down in England for Tidal, NGW, HOPE and Alpha Omega. Joe Hendry (Local Hero) has even been wrestling into Europe for RWA in Romania and PWU in Ireland.

It's not down to just his flashy entrances, or his sharp promos, Joe Hendry is one of the hardest working wrestlers in the country. A true student of the game, Hendry regularly travels to seminars all over the country to learn from the best in the world. Something that Joe clearly strives to be. Through matches with the likes of Doug Williams, Crime Time and Damian O'Connor you can tell that Joe Hendry (Local Hero) absorbs so much information that flows over into this next match and his next and so on and so forth. Even from his early promos he gave an aura of invincibility and being a big deal. Not through being cocky, or looking down on others but in the presentation of his work. The man is a credit to Scottish professional wrestling.



As his wrestling ability grows, so do the entrances. Never short on confidence, we've recently seen more creative entrances from Joe Hendry (Local Hero) in Insane Championship Wrestling, raising the ire of his opponents with parody entrances or find inventive ways to shoehorn his name into classic songs. In front of 4000 screaming fans in the SECC, we even saw Joe Hendry makes his entrance in a Hendry ball.

You may've spotted Joe Hendry (Local Hero) on your TV screens having made appearances on WWE television as part of Adam Rose's Rosebuds, the pink suit cladded Hendry was grabbed by Jack Swagger during the segment, this lead to Joe Hendry (Local Hero) rename himself as no longer just a Local Hero but a Global Hero. He would return to our screens as Rusev's Russian advocate (along with Lionheart). With this strong build and great presence, it's hard not to think that Joe Hendry (Global Hero) is on WWE's radar.

I have had the pleasure to watch Joe Hendry (Global Hero) compete in many promotions and I can safely say he is one of the best in the country. Much like the others that have been featured in this guest slot, he is another that is starting to really get his name out there and one that will be on everyones lips in the very near future. He has an "IT" Factor that draws you in and keeps you watching throughout. He can work the crowd to perfection and keep everyone entertained whether he wants you to boo or cheer.



In the spirit of Christmas I will leave you with Joe Hendry's original Christmas gift.

Until next time…



- Billy
Website
Twitter
Facebook

Over the Border: The Passion for Wrasslin'

I've had the last month to think about what I could write in this edition of Over the Border. Many ideas sprung to mind; should I write about the plethora of young wrestlers that are making a name for themselves recently, like Aaron Echo or Theo Doros. Should I write a show preview? There are many to choose from that I could pick and run down the match card. I had even considered writing about the recent injury angle/ruse by Lionheart in ICW and if playing off real life, life threatening injuries is in good taste.


You see, in Scotland right now, the wrestling world is on fire. A revolution is what I started talking about in the first Over the Border article and that revolution is seeing 5000 people sell out the SECC on 15th November for ICW Fear and Loathing VIII. An incredible feat that is testament to the hard work that promoters, wrestlers, crew members, referees, graphic designers and fans, amongst many other professions and brackets, do to show others how great professional wrestling is in this country.

All of this is just paving the groundwork, this tiny country with the big heart, that I call home is one of the most talked about when it comes to wrestling. Whether it's WrestleZone packing over 1000 people each year into the Beach Ballroom, BCW selling out venues with over 700 screaming fans or ICW making headlines in national papers, it's been great to see the evolution of professional wrestling in this country over the last few years.


As a fan, I've found that it's helped me stay in touch with professional wrestling. I gave up trying to watch WWE and even TNA, I wasn't going to source out Japanese wrestling or Ring of Honor. Sure I keep up to date with WWE and TNA so I can jump back in at any time and not be lost like The Great Khali trying to string a four move sequence together. I found more passionate fans about Scottish wrestling than I knew even existed.

We are blessed, perhaps even spoilt, with events happening nearly every weekend around the country, there is no excuse to not sample Scottish wrestling at the moment. From the far reaches of Caithness to the bustling cities of Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee and Edinburgh. There is something for everyone.


While we've seen ICW hit the TV screens with Insane Fight Club (and Insane Fight Club II) the real goal is to see Scottish wrestling on regular television. A goal that is possible with the legions of supporters but they need to let their voice be heard. From what started as a passionate article about Scottish wrestling has turned into a declaration, we must let our voices be heard to take Scottish wrestling to the next level. We are in an age of social media where our thoughts can be noted for the world to see, hashtags trend worldwide, emojis are colon closed bracket, there has never been a better time to get your voice out there.

I'm now standing on my chair while typing, like a homage to William Wallace…I need to sit down.


…there we go…

If you agree with me and countless others then project that agreement. Tweet me @VoiceOfOSW, tweet everyone like Steve Brookstein, Sabrina the Teenage Witch or Jenna Jameson, everyone. Let your voice matter.


Anyway, I better go wipe the saltire facepaint off my face and get back to work…


'Til next time, this has been your friendly neighbourhood wrestling blogger.


- Billy

Over the Border VII: Is This Real Life…or Is This Just Fantasy?

Over on the OSWtv Facebook page I've been posting up a fantasy match between a Scottish wrestling star against a wrestler from WWE/TNA/ROH in a fantasy match styley. So, for this edition of Over the Border I thought I'd share with you five of my favourite combinations that have been posted so far;

Dean Ambrose vs Chris Renfrew

Fairly straight forward storywise. Both are sadistic, hardcore and breathtaking on the mic. This would be a brawl, a bloodbath and a spectacle. This would be everything that we'd hoped Bray Wyatt vs Dean Ambrose could've been. A Glasgow Street Fight might be the way to do this, not that there would be much choice as to where as this could go all around the venue, the streets and into other establishments nearby.

Daniel Bryan vs Mikey Whiplash

This match would have a little bit of everything. Both are well versed in grappling, working the mat and jockeying for position. However, both aren't afraid to throw in a suicide dive or a high risked manoeuvre I think these two would create a fascinating story, like a War and Peace, it could be near never ending, yet keep the reader occupied throughout.

CM Punk vs BT Gunn

BT Gunn isn't known for his words but his in ring prowess is unquestionable. Both are similar in style, using quick stiff kicks and willing to use their body as a weapon. As good as CM Punk is, I think BT Gunn would pick a body part to breakdown to diabilitate before finishing off the job. CM Punk calls himself the Best in the World but The Oddity could be a spoiler.
 

Paige vs Sammii Jayne

I posted quite a few matches with ladies that I could've picked like The Bella Twins vs The Owens Twins, Angelina Love vs Courtney, Taryn Terrell vs Viper which are all fantastic prospective matches but this is the one I picked for this piece. I'm a big fan of Sammii, to put her in the ring with someone of the experience of Paige, who is also still so young, it would create a physical and interesting contest. Sammii thrives when she's got something to prove.

Cesaro vs Joe Coffey

The King of Swing vs Iron Man. There, your money has been handed over. Feats of strength, wrestling, endurance. A 1 hour Iron Man match might no be enough. Cesaro can make any opponent a Superhero and in this one he would be facing an actual Superhero. This has an explosion of immovable force versus immovable force.

So there you have it, just five of the many fantasy matches that have been posted on the OSWtv Facebook page. Do you have a fantasy match that you would like to see? Contact me at VoiceOfOSW@gmail.com

Sites Better Than This

This article is part of #ATPW24, in aid of MIND Charity. You can help support the cause by going to www.justgiving.co.uk/acrossthepondwrestling

It's always good to share a little love for products you enjoy. So I thought while I'm here today I'd spend a brief moment talking about blogs, podcasts and the like that I happen to be digging at the moment. Digging is a great word.

Marc Pearson

Marc Pearson does wrestling reviews on Youtube. Recently he's mostly been focusing on his Ten Years Ago.. and 1999 Sucked Series, but there's a wealth of content across his Youtube channel. I could watch Marc's videos til the cows come home. It helps that we are pretty good pals, I suppose. Always informative and laugh out loud funny, Marc never minces his words when it comes to terrible wrestling. And you never know when an emergency service vehicle might turn up! You can check out his channel here. 

WrestleRopes

I have so much time for WrestleRopes. I love being able to keep up with results of shows as they happen and WrestleRopes always seem to have the quickest results for British wrestling shows on the web, all in one place. The site looks great and it's easy to navigate to find what you need to know, when you need to know it. It's clear a lot of work is put into keeping the site running, due to the sheer volume of content produced and companies they cover. They've got me out of many a long journeys boredom! Check them out here.

OSWtv

OSWtv is Billy Strachan, our man north of the border. His dedication to getting the word out about Scottish wrestling and supporting the scene top to bottom deserves to be recognised here. The site is updated regularly with interviews with numerous wrestlers and talent, as well as preview, reviews and all other sorts of good stuff. So good in fact that we asked Billy to write our Over the Border series! Check out OSWtv here.

British Wrestling Radio

This is a site that I just don't frequent enough. Put quite simply Deano Mitchell is an inspiration to us all, kicking cancers butt and raising money for anything and everything. The bloke is a machine. His shows are always entertaining, and even branch outside of wrestling. Deano will let you know what he thinks and you won't want to argue with him! You can check BWR out here.

Over The Border II - Wrestling with Social Media

OSWtv's Billy Strachan returns once again with the second edition of Over The Border! This time Billy focuses on how important social media can be to Scottish wrestling.

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Back in ye olde days of UK professional wrestling, the barren times, once World of Sport was removed from ITV in 1985, the only way to advertise your local promotion would be through posters around town, newspaper advertisements, maybe an interview on your local radio or television station if you were lucky. 

An example of the posters one could see

But this 2014...things have changed! 

Here are a few figures for you. 3 BILLION active users on the internet, 1.23 BILLION active Facebook users, 1 BILLION active YouTube users, 284 MILLION active Twitter users. Social media is the most effective way to reach wrestling fans nowadays and there are promotions that have taken advantage of this by making sure that their audience is kept up to date with all the latest news and promotion. 

Here are the top 5 Scottish wrestling company pages on Facebook:

Insane Championship Wrestling: 17,000+ Likes
Scottish Wrestling Alliance: 7,241 Likes
Premier British Wrestling: 5,921 Likes
Scottish Wrestling Entertainment: 3,479 Likes
Pro Wrestling Elite: 3,330 Likes

So keeping your website or Facebook page up to date is so important. When you set up a company page/website you are not only making a commitment to your product but also to your fan base. You can't go on once a month and go "oh aye, this is happening". We are in the age where if people lose interest they will move onto the next thing without hesitation. Social media is also the quickest and most effective way to get a wrestlers character out there be it through a fan page, YouTube promo videos, podcast or interviews.

On the subject of keeping your page up to date, this is a personal preference, but if you don't write in a professional manner or have a basic grasp of the English language, I'm not going to be reading whatever you've written to promote yourself or your show. Basic common sense really. It's a business at the end of the day. This is different if it’s built towards a character, like Switch, but a wrestling promotion should have a professional look when writing.

Don't get me wrong, posters and newspaper adverts and all the things I mentioned at the start of this piece are still effective, they bring in the casual fan that maybe isn't aware of the social media presence the promotion has. Word of mouth is also being integrated into social media with blogs and fan podcasts. 

Oop's...How did that get there? 

If you don't believe what I'm saying I'll give you an example. Grado made a name for himself through YouTube videos, through a social media campaign "Get Grado Booked", he's arguably the biggest name in Scottish and UK professional wrestling today. Without social media, there might not be a “chubby wee chancer fae the tap end of Stevenson” shouting "IT'S YERSEL!" today. 

If you don't keep on top of your social media then it could stunt the growth of your promotion and possibly your growth as a wrestler. Getting yourself out there and making a name for yourself gets you from being a name on the card to THE name on THE card. 

Reckless Intent "Over The Top" Preview

OSWTV's Billy Strachan takes a look at another upcoming event in Scotland. 

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Reckless Intent are a relatively new promotion from West Lothian. Having only been active since early 2013 they have started to make waves in Scottish professional wrestling. Their next big event takes place on November 1^st with Over the Top. Debuts, grudge matches and great action is on the cards. Let’s take a look at the match card so far.

Rawlins vs Falcon

 

 

Reckless Intent Original Rawlins will have his mind elsewhere with the mysterious Sons of Silence around. Falcon will have a chance to score a huge win over the former RI World Champion.

Ian Ambrose Will Debut at Reckless Intent

After Saint George successfully defended his World Title against Scottish Wrestling Entertainment wrestler Martyn Stallyon, he invited the current SWE Heavyweight Champion, and #Scumbag, Ian Ambrose to Reckless Intent to celebrate both of them defeating Martyn Stallyon in recent months. General Manager Jason McKinlay has advised that Ian Ambrose will compete at Over the Top. Ambrose is hot off his debut at Discovery Wrestling in Edinburgh and will be preparing by adding even more finishers to his arsenal and will be showing off his uncanny ability to kick out at 2.

“The Superstar” Darren Lewis vs Craig Valant

 

 

The current holder of the Wooden Spoon, Darren Lewis, faces a newcomer to professional wrestling. Craig Valant will be hoping to get an upset victory and curtail the momentum that The Superstar has been building. The ever cocky Darren Lewis may be looking past the youngster towards the World Title match and waiting for his chance to cash in his Wooden Spoon, so if Valant wanted to make an impact, tonight may be the night to do it.

6 Man Elimination Match To Determine Entry Number In The Battle Royal Main Event

(First Man Eliminated Enters #1 - Second Man Eliminated Enters #5 - Third Man Eliminated Enters #10 - Forth Man Eliminated Enters #15 - Runner Up Enters #18 - Winner Enters #20)

 

Jackie Grady vs Venym vs AJ Russell vs JJ Russell vs ??? vs ???

Two wild cards have yet to be announced for this one. With a win you have the best number for the main event battle royal, however, if you get eliminated first then you have to outlast 19 other competitors to win. High risk with high reward in this match. Jackie Grady should be the early favourite from the competitors announced after several high quality bouts in the recent months along with reigns as UK and Hardcore Champion recently.

Reckless Intent UK Title Match

Mikey © vs “Global Hero” Joe Hendry

 

Joe Hendry received his title shot against Mikey for the UK Title in return for returning the Hardcore Title that he refused to defend the belt 24/7. Mikey has been having trouble with the Sons of Silence and will have trouble keeping his mind on, the always dangerous, Joe Hendry. Joe Hendry has a list as long as your arm with championships and accolades in the last year, so will relish adding the Reckless Intent UK Title to that list.

Reckless Intent World Title Match

“The Prodigal Son” Saint George © vs “The Butcher” Scott Renwick

 

 

Saint George has done everything he can to avoid defending his championship, most recently losing to Jam O’Malley by count out, he’s also took the time challenging members of the audience or those that are not prepared. But to beat Renwick and retain his title, he has to play by the rules. Scott Renwick has had his ups and downs in Reckless Intent but this is his chance to get on top of the mountain. Darren Lewis will also be watching this one closely, waiting for his chance to cash in he Wooden Spoon.

20 Man Rumble

 

 

The main event of the evening. At least six men in this will have competed earlier in the night, fighting to enter last. The winner will get their chance to face the World Champion, whether it’s Saint George or Scott Renwick, at The Battle of West Lothian. I’d expect a couple surprise entries and, as always, a few twists and turns. 

Tickets are available online at http://www.reckless-intent.com/top-2/

£10 for an adult

£5 for a child

£25 for a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children)

Doors open at 6.30pm, first bell at 7pm.

Five Questions With...OSWtv's Billy Strachan

Five Questions With... makes it's triumphant return with the first interview of 2014. As last year we'll be bringing you a great mixture of interviews with everyone from the world of wrestling. Kicking us of in 2014 is OSWtv's Billy Strachan! Enjoy!

Name: Billy Strachan
Age: 23
Hometown: Elgin, Moray, Scotland
Known For: Ask Billy and OSWtv on YouTube

1. When did you first get into wrestling and what was the drew you to the sport?

My friend was a wrestling fan and I went over to his house and The Undertaker vs Kane inferno match was on and I was hooked straight away. After a few nightmares of Kane and Undertaker coming to take my soul (I was 8/9 at the time) I watched more videos at his and then found WWF Heat on Channel 4 and every Sunday I'd sit down in my bedroom and watch Heat, then tape the events like Royal Rumble 2000 on Channel 4. When my folks got On Digital I got to watch Smackdown, Metal, WCW Worldwide and very occasionally RAW is WAR. I loved everything about it the shows, the action, the characters and the storylines.

2. Tell us a little about OSWtv and how that came about?

- OSWtv really started from my original YouTube show Ask Billy where I would answer questions from the Old School Wrestling community from bebo then Facebook (facebook.com/OSWChatV), A couple guys from the page had made a one off show talking about wrestling and I thought it was a great idea. After a 30 minute pilot talking about WWE, TNA and SWE I realised that no-one had a YouTube show specifically talking about Scottish wrestling. I'd been keeping up to date with Scottish wrestling and attending several events over that last year from SWE, Wrestlezone and W3L and just ran with it. The first proper show in June got over 200 views so convinced me that this was something people wanted to see. That in turn made me create the Facebook page (facebook.com/OSWtv) where I would share announcements, results, events, pages and articles about Scottish wrestling.

3. Who do you see as the next breakout star of Scottish Wrestling and is there anyone on the scene who could possibly take the next step to a international promotion? 

I could talk about who should be an international star from Scottish wrestling for hours. The scene is bursting with talent. Especially the women with the likes of Viper, Kay Lee Ray, Bete Noire and Nikki Storm tearing it up in all over the UK. In terms of the guys I'd love to see Jackie Polo on an international stage, he just has 'it' and he'll be going to Japan next year so they will be in for a treat. Breakout stars? I'd say Joe Hendry for sure, if you haven't seen IC Double Me and You on YouTube it is amazing, he oozes charisma. Martyn Stallyon will be a huge star as he's just a delight to watch in the ring. Also Sammii Jayne and Debbie Sharpe in SWE are better and better every time I see them perform.

4. What are your Top Three matches of all time and why?

This is the hardest question you've asked by far. 

Edge vs Mick Foley - WrestleMania 22
The match was violent and brought Edge to the big time. It was Mick Foley's WrestleMania moment also so it made it extra special. With the current PG environment it's almost guaranteed that we'll never see anything this brutal in WWE again.



Bete Noire vs "Crazy" Mary Dobson - ICW Luke...Who's Yer Da?
I do love matches that make me audibly shout OH MY GOD and this did just that. Hardcore, crazy and amazing risks that these two took. It's on YouTube so I would tell everyone to check this out and they would not be disappointed.



Shane McMahon vs Kurt Angle - King of the Ring 2001
For someone who had very little training, Shane McMahon was brilliant in the ring and putting him in there with a technical machine, the perfect wrestler in Kurt Angle this was always going to be great. Nothing about this match disappointed me.

5. Where can our readers find your work and what have you got coming up?

- I'm everywhere are the moment, YouTube at youtube.com/VoiceOfOSW, Twitter @VoiceOfOSW and Facebook at facebook.com/OSWtv. I'll also be popping up on Scottish Wrestling Central doing reviews for shows that I attend. Most exciting of all is I've been given the chance to help promote PBW Rock N Wrestle 2 at The Ironworks, Inverness on March 21st which will have Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, Joe E Legend, Grado and Jack Jester on the show to name just a few stars and will have music preformed by Toby Michael's Rolling Damned so worth grabbing a ticket while you still can!

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We'd like to thank Billy for allowing us this interview, now go and check out OSWtv!

Next time: Attitude Era Review's Lewis Ogden.